作者收到了加州大学伯克利的全额奖学金录取通知，这是他长久以来的梦想。然而，在权衡了加州高昂的生活成本、远离家人的不舍以及对家庭紧密联系的重视后，他做出了一个艰难的决定：放弃伯克利，转而选择就读德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校。尽管朋友们对此表示不解，认为他“放弃了未来”，但作者通过仔细的财务计算和对生活方式的考量，认为在家乡的大学能够获得更符合实际需求的平衡。两年后，他在奥斯汀一家初创公司担任开发人员，同时完成学业，并认为这是一个正确的选择，说明并非所有最优决策都源于名校的光环，实际需求和个人感受同样重要。

🎓 **名校录取与现实考量：** 作者获得了加州大学伯克利的全额奖学金，这是一个巨大的成就，实现了他多年的梦想。然而，在深入了解加州高昂的生活成本（每月至少需2500美元用于基本生活）和交通费用后，他意识到即使有奖学金，经济压力依然巨大，尤其是在无法保证实习收入的情况下。

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 **家庭情感的权重：** 作者强调了与家人之间紧密的联系，他们几乎每晚共进晚餐，并在节假日聚会。远离家人的想法让他感到深深的忧伤，这种情感因素在他做出最终决定时起到了重要作用，他不想因为追求名校而牺牲与家人共度时光的机会。

⚖️ **权衡与取舍的艰难：** 面对朋友们“你在放弃未来”的质疑，作者在夜晚默默计算，发现即使有周密的计划，经济上的不确定性也让他难以安心。最终，他将目光投向了德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校，这所学校代表了他所需要的平衡：优质的教育、可负担的成本以及能够维持与家人生活节奏的可能性。

💡 **实用性与价值的重新认知：** 在此之前，作者并未充分认识到德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的价值，主要因为其学费以及他过往的认知偏差。这次经历让他意识到，许多“实用性”更强的大学同样能提供高质量的教育，关键在于个人如何看待和发掘其潜力。

✅ **不后悔的务实选择：** 尽管放弃伯克利带来过短暂的伤感，但两年后的现实证明了作者选择的明智。他在家乡的大学完成了学业，并在当地找到了一份满意的工作，实现了学业与职业的平稳过渡。这表明，最适合自己的选择，往往是那些能够平衡理想与现实、情感与理性的决定。

I was accepted into UC Berkeley with a full-ride scholarship — a dream come true.But the cost of moving to California was too high, and I didn't want to leave my family.Instead, I enrolled at the University of Texas and don't regret my difficult decision.

I still remember the day I opened the email from UC Berkeley as if it were yesterday. The message was straightforward: "Congratulations and welcome to the University of California, Berkeley. You have been admitted for the fall semester."

My heart raced. It was the opportunity I had long dreamed of: the chance to study at one of the best universities in the world. The best part was that they were offering me a full-ride scholarship.

Since I was a child, I have always been a diligent student. Born in Austin, I had good grades, teacher praise, and an aptitude for learning, which marked my academic career in childhood. When I received a full scholarship to UC Berkeley, it seemed like the crowning achievement of years of effort.

I shared the news with my parents, and initially, they were as happy as I was and supported the idea of my moving to California.

But, as I learned on my journey, the most logical decisions are not always the easiest.

Moving to California would come at a steep price

When I started researching the practical details — cost of living, housing, transportation — reality set in.

Berkeley is significantly more expensive than Austin. Even with the scholarship covering tuition, I would need at least $2,500 a month to survive.

In California, even a modest room would consume a large part of any extra income. What if I couldn't land an internship? How would I support myself without guaranteed internships? How would I cope with being so far away from my family?

My family has always been very close. We have dinner together almost every night, and on holidays, my uncles, cousins, and even neighbors usually come to my house, or we go on a family outing. The idea of spending years away from that made me deeply sad.

My father has always been my biggest supporter. He said, "I know you'll miss all of this, but I'll be here rooting for you."

I debated rejecting Berkeley's offer

As I contemplated other schools, many friends reacted with surprise. I remember one of them saying, "Berkeley is Berkeley! You're throwing your future away!"

But they didn't see the calculations I made at night while my family slept. No matter how many plans I made, the numbers didn't add up.

That's when I started exploring the University of Texas, Austin as an option. The school represented the perfect balance I needed: quality education, affordable cost (despite not having a scholarship), and the possibility of maintaining my routine with my family.

I realized we often overlook the value of more practical universities. UT had never been a real possibility for me until that moment, initially because of the tuition fees and because I didn't really give it the importance it deserved until then.

I finally chose to enroll at UT Austin

As the deadline to accept a school's offer approached, I told my parents I was scared I'd regret leaving Texas and them behind. They told me they'd support me no matter what I chose.

I had already accepted the scholarship at Berkeley, but giving it up took courage. After that, I enrolled at UT Austin.

Of course, I was sad when I didn't go to California. It was a difficult decision, but I never really regretted it.

Two years later, I work as a developer at a startup in Austin while finishing my degree at UT. My routine is intense, but I feel I'm in the right place.

Today, I understand that no decision is perfect, but some are necessary. Berkeley may have had open doors, but Austin gave me everything I needed.